Around 85 Penn students gathered in Houston Hall on Tuesday to commemorate the lives lost during the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel.
The vigil was organized by University students and promoted by Penn Hillel. During the event, speakers shared personal stories about their experiences on Oct. 7 and the victims of the attack.
The first speaker, a College first year from Tel Aviv, reflected on living through the attacks and described how the day reshaped her sense of safety and community.
She shared the stories of two friends — a soldier killed while serving in the Israeli armed forces and another who was taken hostage — emphasizing the impact the attack had on her friends and family.
The next two speakers were Wharton MBA students who recounted their own experiences serving in the Israeli Defense Forces. They described waking to the sound of rockets that morning, the confusion they felt in the early hours of the attack, and the challenges faced by soldiers and civilians in the days that followed.
Both recounted stories of fellow soldiers who were killed in combat or taken hostage and reflected on how the events of Oct. 7 changed their perspectives. Specifically, they discussed their lost sense of naivety and optimism experienced after that day.
After their remarks, attendees asked the speakers questions about their military service and their transition back to civilian life.
One participant then led the audience in an English prayer of remembrance for those killed and taken hostage, which was later repeated in Hebrew.
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The vigil concluded with a moment of silence, during which attendees lit candles that had been distributed at the event. Participants stood together to sing Hatikvah, the Israeli national anthem, before the gathering ended.
